Review

Review Summary: A rather misunderstood album that can easily deceive a listener into thinking it's a classic, however doesn't have too much longterm appeal.....

You Fail MeBe My Light In This World of Darkness

Converge. The name alone carries a sense of mysticism, a sense of respect, accomplishment, and honesty. Having released some of the most emotionally charged music of the last 20 years, it’s not hard to see why. They are largely credited with starting the Metalcore movement, being one of the first bands to infuse Hardcore breakdowns into their Heavy Metal sound. Creating a chaotic atmosphere with technical guitar work
complex rhythms, ridiculous drumming, and of course Jacob Bannon’s tortured shrieks, few bands possess the originality or aggression of Converge. They had gained recognition with their first two LPs Petitioning the Empty Sky and When Forever Comes Crashing, however it wasn’t until their third release Jane Doe that they reached their creative peak. Revered as a masterpiece by almost all fans of Extreme music, Jane Doe is a culmination of all the things that make Converge such a respected and influential band. With song lengths varying from 1 to 11 minutes, it’s frantic and hyperactive instrumentation and it’s personal and emotional(if not somewhat clichéd) lyrics, Jane Doe set the bar for which all Converge albums would come to be judged. And so, coming off the success of an album as monumental as Jane Doe, it is not surprising that Converge felt the need to alter their sound. After all, there was simply no way that they would be able to top Jane Doe using the same formula. They had perfected their sound, and it had taken them as far as it could. In order to create another masterpiece, changes had to be made. The result would come to be one of the most misunderstood albums of all time. An absolute gem that, sadly, never received the recognition it deserved after being overshadowed by its predecessor.

Enter You Fail Me

There is no doubt that most would consider it a travesty to compare You Fail Me to the Holy Grail of Converge’s catalogue, Jane Doe. They largely altered their sound when making it, creating an extremely dark and desperate atmosphere. Just the Intro track, First Light conjures up images of desperation and loneliness. The entire album is bleak, alone, abandoned. The title itself is a reflection on disappointment and failure, a reflection on giving up. It is a lyrical masterpiece, dealing not so much with failed relationships but rather failure of society. There is not a consistent story, but there is a consistent message. Poetic in nature, Bannon confronts his own failures and demons, as well as how the darker nature of society corrupts the youthful and sews the seeds of contempt. You Fail Me is ultimately a rejection of society, of conformity, and of the Oppressors who continue to gnaw at the fabric of moral justice.

With darker subject matter than any other Converge release, the band took their instrumentation to new heights with You Fail Me. It is less technical than Jane Doe, there is not nearly as much of the complex polyrhythmic drum and guitar interplay, however quite frankly, it would not suit the album very well. One of it’s biggest strengths its how comprehensible it is, it does not constantly assault you from every angle like previous Converge releases. That being said, the musicianship is in no way lacking. The Bass, Drums, and Guitar all work together perfectly, playing off one another to provide the desolate backdrop on which Bannon tears into our social fabric. To touch on the lyrics again, they are just unbelievable. I believe that You Fail Me is Bannon’s lyrical masterpiece. It could easily be converted to poetry and still retain all of its wonder and presence. Jacob Bannon screams the lyrics with conviction and angst, the delivery is simply perfect. At times his words are even decipherable, sounding reminiscent of some of the more Hardcore influenced When Forever Comes Crashing. However, despite the strengths of the lyrics and instrumentation, it is the atmosphere that they create which makes You Fail Me so memorable. It is unsettling and cold, not so much a collection of songs but rather an entire experience.

Is You Fail Me a better CD than Jane Doe" No, but that doesn’t mean that [/i]Jane Doe[i] is better than You Fail Me. This is Converge at their artistic height, working together perfectly as a band to orchestrate an album that captures an entire feeling, an entire idea. With soundscapes as barren and bleak as the poetry that they support, You Fail Me is a classic. To this day, there is no other CD like it. Many bands have copied the sound of Jane Doe, however it is doubtful that there will ever be another group of performers who can create such a chilling, honest, and poetic piece of art.

I dont really expect anyone to agree with my rating, I think one of the reason's I like the album so much is all the memories I can tie it back to. It has alot of sentimental value to me. It's one of those, you know?

Yea I see your point, I was a bit worried that the review would come acrosse as a comparison. I guess the thing I was trying to stress with the review is the emotion and message that I can derive out of this CD. When I first heard it, it was unsettling to me and I didn't know what to make of it. I really like Jacob Bannon as a lyricist, but don't have any intention to marry him.....that honor is reserved for John Frusciante.

On the review it self, I think that much like your other reviews it's very well written. While I personally can't agree or disagree with anything but the rating, I'll give you props for the review itself.

So pretty much everyone i know in person loves this album just as much as Jane Doe, but in forums and stuff people give it a lot of shit. It's strange to me, because this is my favorite converge album. No other album in music, that i have heard, sounds like this. I mean, the closest thing to this vibe is No Heroes, and that's only because of the production.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Pixiesfan, it's not like Converge is some underground act that only you and a few others know about, they are a pretty big band, especially after the release of No Heroes. After a new CD comes out, especially one that garners alot of praise, its natural for more people to check out the band(even though Converge is already a huge name). That doesn't make their musical taste inferior to yours. I'll never understand how people can incesstantly praise a band but somehow become angry and dissapointed when they become popular.